R.I.P. drummer Ric Parnell of Atomic Rooster, Spinal Tap

Sadly drummer Ric Parnell (aka Mick Shrimpton of Spinal Tap) has passed away at the age of 70. He'll be greatly missed.  

Deniz Tek remembers Ric Parnell...

Ric Parnell died early this morning. 

From day one, meeting him, I found him to be engaging, warm, and delightfully funny. We hit it off as pals immediately. He had a cheerful spirit that made you feel good, just being around him. 

Ric's amazing history in the music world is well known. I had the great good fortune to work with Ric on three albums. Studio time was casual, fun, and scattered with stories and humor. Ric never actually prepared for a session, but would come up with the beat and the arrangement on the spot. He would say "How does this next song go?"  I'd play it to him on a guitar, and he'd think about it for a minute. Then he would say "Right! Got something." Then he would nail it in one or two takes, and it was as perfect as it gets. 

Ric was one of a kind. He lives on in his music, and in our hearts.

(Photos by Anne Tek)

 

Deniz Tek recorded Detroit (2013), Mean Old Twister (2016) & Lost For Words (2018) with Ric Parnell.   Photo by Annie Tek

New disc due from Birdman's Deniz Tek

DENIZ TEK – DETROIT

 

Best known as a founding member of the influential 70s rock band Radio Birdman, Ann Arbor, Michigan-born guitarist, singer and songwriter Deniz Tek has continued recording and touring over the past three decades with figures emanating from Detroit's iconic groups The Stooges and MC5.

February 22nd marks the long awaited Citadel Records release of Detroit, Tek's first solo album in 21 years – yes that's right, Take It To The Vertical came out in 1992. Apart from flashes of keyboards and harmonica, Detroit is essentially a guitar album, with Tek's vocals and signature string-slashing set against a stone-solid rhythm section.

A year of preparation preceeded the sessions for the album that became Detroit. Two songs were recorded with Bob and Steve Brown and then another five songs were demoed at the end of 2010. Album sessions began in January 2011, with drum-basher deluxe Ric Parnell of Atomic Rooster (aka Spinal Tap's ill-fated Mick Shrimpton) taking over the kit. By the end of the year 14 songs had been recorded and the focus turned to the finish work. Tek's typically tasteful guitar work and driving rhythm section is really all that was needed to get the point across

A vinyl release was always part of the plan. Deniz arranged to take the master tapes to Houston to mix the album at the historic Sugarhill recording studio, with Mort Bradley manning the vintage vacuum tube equipment. It was there Tek decided to create a special mono mix for the vinyl edition (issued by Career Records) and use the stereo mix for the CD version. 

In support of the album, Deniz and band will tour Australia in February/March before heading to Europe and the US.So far no Canadian dates have been announced.

1. Pine Box (3:40)
2. Fate, Not Amenable To Change (4:09)
3. Twilight Of The Modern Age (3:19)
4. Can Of Soup (2:47)
5. Growing Dim (3:30)
6. Ghost Town (4:07)
7. Perfect World (4:01)
8. Falling (3:03)
9. Let Him Pay For That (3:21)
10. I'm All Right (2:51)
11. Take That Away (vinyl only) 

 

Deniz Tek - guitars, bass, vocals

Ric Parnell - drums

Ron Sanchez - keyboards
Bob Brown - bass
Andy Newman - bass
Paul Morrison - B3
Steve Brown, Florent Barbier - Percussion
Daddy Long Legs - blues harp

Produced by Deniz Tek
Recorded at GLEA, Ships In, Sugarhill

Deniz Tek Group w/Rob Younger @ The Sando

LINKS
Deniz Tek homepage
Deniz Tek FB
Citadel Records page
Career Records page